Does Helping Out Make a Difference?

Have you ever wanted to lend a hand to someone going through a difficult time, but you didn’t know if it was the right thing to do?

Do it. It is the right thing to do.

When people experience an unexpected event, their world turns upside down. Orderliness and routine turns into confusion and disorder. The chaos alone can cause additional stress, creating an obstacle to coping and dealing with the adverse circumstances.

The outpourings of help and support that we have witnessed as a result of the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, is a good example of how we can have a positive impact by helping those in need. Without being summoned or asked, people have lined up to

volunteer their time and their assistance. In some cases, this help has been the difference between life and death.

When I was parenting a child with multiple disabilities, it was a simple phone call from a friend or an offer to the laundry, made a significant difference in my ability to manage the day-to-day tasks. It also gave me comfort in knowing that there were people who cared and that I wasn’t’ alone.

Cooking a meal, picking up children from school, babysitting, buying groceries, cutting the lawn, cleaning the house, making essential phone calls or stopping by for a visit, are supportive actions that make a difficult situation, a little easier.

Any way that you can assist, no matter how small or how big, your help will relieve overwhelming stress and will be greatly appreciated by those affected by misfortune.

If you know someone who is going through a difficult time, and you are wondering if they could use your help, don’t hesitate to assist. It will make an invaluable difference in their life.